Commissioned by the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts
Theatre Debut: John F. Kennedy Center, Washington, D.C., February 24-26, 2006
http://www.kennedy-center.org

GRAMMY® winners Cathy Fink & Marcy Marxer bring toe-tappin’, hand clappin’, sing along fun to their Country Music Jamboree. Take an exciting journey through the roots of America’s Country Music from the British Isles to the Grand Ole Opry and beyond.

With the Jamboree Band band, you’ll hear fiddle, guitar, five-string banjo, dobro, steel guitar, mandolin and the upright bass along with some fine country harmony singing. From the early front porch string band music of the 1920’s to the country swing of Bob Wills and His Texas Playboys, western yodeling styles of the 1930’s and bluegrass of the 1940’s and 1950’s, these sounds developed here in the United States with influences from the British Isles, from African American traditions and from America’s “melting pot”.

The show’s repertoire will give a broad appreciation of the organic roots of early country music and a glance at its progressions through the years. In the age of the ipod and electronic music, family audiences will be treated to a look at how music was made a hundred years ago on the front porch. You’ll hear an acapella ballad, real music on the home made cigar box fiddle, songs and comedy from the early days of country music radio, bluegrass classics and even Dolly Parton’s heartwarming “Coat of Many Colors”.  Dolly tells the story behind that song herself on video. Additional video clips from the Country Music Hall of Fame Archives will be used interstitially to help audiences visualize those early days in country music history. Kids and families will be inspired by the seven year old Rickie Skaggs joining Lester Flatt & Learl Scruggs on stage!

The Kennedy Center commissioned Cathy & Marcy to create the new show as a perfect way to combine their talents in country music stylings with their experience as the country’s premiere family entertainers. They are back-to-back GRAMMY winners in the children’s music field and have 9 additional nominations in children’s music and folk music.

Cathy & Marcy’s relationship with country music goes back over 25 years. Both artists enjoyed playing country music while performing at folk clubs and festivals in the 1970’s and 1980’s. From 1983-1995 they toured, performed and recorded with one of country music’s early stars, Patsy Montana. Ms. Montana was the first woman in country music to sell one million records (1935, “I Wanna Be A Cowboy’s Sweetheart”). They have also researched and performed radio and concert shows on the history of women in country music. In 1988 the duo produced and performed on the “Blue Rose” recording which led to a television appearance on The Nashville Network.

The hour long show will include a mock fiddle contest, yodeling, cowgirl lariat rope tricks, audience sing-along participation and most importantly, down home country music.

This wonderful heartfelt tribute to great American music can be enjoyed by both new and old fans of country/  bluegrass/ honkytonk/ old-timey sounds. Not only does it feature  brilliant singin' and playin', the country music Jamboree combines  music with visual effects that flash out both the high times and  heartbreaks found in "the country of Country."
---Michael Jaworek, The Birchmere Music Hall

You two are so easy with which to work, tht the whole experience-from the conceiving of the idea through its development to performance-was just wonderful.
---Darrell M. Ayers, Vice President, Education, The Kennedy Center

2 show options
1) Sixty Five minute show with no intermission for schools, kids, families.

2) For evening audiences, the show can be expanded to include an intermission and a  35-40 minute concert of country, bluegrass and western swing classics. All ages welcome – a wonderful multigenerational appeal.

Teacher Guide Available